Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

There is provided a connector capable of reliably preventing a short
circuit without causing increase in cost. The connector includes a
terminal which is joined to an electric wire, a housing which
accommodates a terminal joint part which is a joint portion of the
electric wire and the terminal, a sealing member which is made of a
resilient material having waterproof and insulation properties to seal
between the housing and the terminal joint part, and a shield member
which covers the housing and the electric wire near the terminal joint
part, wherein the sealing member is formed integrally with an electric
wire protecting part which extends along the electric wire to cover the
electric wire, and the electric wire protecting part is interposed
between the electric wire and the shield member.

Claims:

1. A connector comprising: a terminal which is joined to an electric
wire; a housing which accommodates a terminal joint part which is a joint
portion of the electric wire and the terminal; a sealing member which is
made of a resilient material having waterproof and insulation properties
to seal between the housing and the terminal joint part; and a shield
member which covers the housing and the electric wire near the terminal
joint part, wherein the sealing member is formed integrally with an
electric wire protecting part which extends along the electric wire to
cover the electric wire, and wherein the electric wire protecting part is
interposed between the electric wire and the shield member.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member has a
mold part for molding the terminal joint part, and the electric wire
protecting part is molded integrally with the mold part.

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector including a housing
for accommodating terminals which are joined to electric wires therein,
and a shield shell for covering the housing.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A well-known type of connector is one which includes a housing for
accommodating terminal fittings which are connected to electric wires, a
metallic shield shell provided on the housing, a metallic tubular
connecting member for connecting a terminal portion of a shield member,
which covers the electric wires together, and the shield shell and also
surrounding the electric wires, and an insulating electric wire cover
provided between the tubular connecting member and the electric wires
(see Patent Document 1).

[0004] However, if the electric wire is stretched by an external force,
for example, shock applied from an exterior, the electric wire can be
ruptured at a joint portion of the electric wire and the terminal.
Otherwise, if a sheath of the electric cable is peeled off, the electric
wire can be short-circuited from the shield shell.

[0005] The connector is configured to avoid a conductor of the electric
wire and the tubular connecting member from being brought in electrical
contact with each other by providing an insulating electric wire cover
between the tubular connecting member and the electric wire. However,
since the separate electric wire cover molded from rubber or resin is
required, the number of components is increased, and thus this causes
increase in cost. Also, in the case of using the electric wire cover made
of resin, the electric wire cover is ruptured by the external force such
as shock, so that a reliable short circuit preventing effect may not be
obtained.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described
problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector
capable of reliably preventing a short circuit without causing increase
in cost.

Means for Solving Problems

[0007] In order to accomplish the above-described object, a connector
according to the present invention is characterized by (1) and (2) below.

[0008] (1) A connector including: a terminal which is joined to an
electric wire; a housing which accommodates a terminal joint part which
is a joint portion of the electric wire and the terminal; a sealing
member which is made of a resilient material having waterproof and
insulation properties to seal between the housing and the terminal joint
part; and a shield member which covers the housing and the electric wire
near the terminal joint part, wherein the sealing member is formed
integrally with an electric wire protecting part which extends along the
electric wire to cover the electric wire, and wherein the electric wire
protecting part is interposed between the electric wire and the shield
member.

[0009] (2) In the connector as described in (1), wherein the sealing
member has a mold part for molding the terminal joint part, and the
electric wire protecting part is molded integrally with the mold part.

[0010] In the connector including the configuration of (1), it can
reliably prevent a short circuit which is caused by contact between the
electric wire and the shield member, since the electric wire near the
terminal joint part is covered and protected by the electric wire
protecting part of the sealing member having an insulation property, and
the electric wire protecting part is interposed between the electric wire
and the shield member.

[0011] Further, since the electric wire protecting part for preventing the
short circuit is formed as a portion of the sealing member, as compared
to the case of forming and employing a separate protecting member, it
does not increase the number of components, which increases in cost.

[0012] Furthermore, since the electric wire protecting part is made of a
resilient material, as compared to the case in which an electric wire
protecting part is made of hard resin, it is possible to prevent the
electric wire without being damaged by an external force, such as shock,
from an exterior, thereby reliably obtaining the effect of preventing the
short circuit.

[0013] In addition, only the electric wire protecting part extends from
the sealing member, and thus the number of components is not increased.
Therefore, since it is not necessary to change manufacturing steps and
man-hours when manufacturing, particular equipment can be easily provided
at the time of production.

[0014] In the connector including the configuration of (2), since the
electric wire protecting part is molded integrally with the sealing part,
it is possible to reliably prevent the short circuit, without causing
increase in cost.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0015] With the present invention, the connector can be provided to
reliably prevent the short circuit, without causing increase in cost.

[0016] As described above, the present invention has been briefly
described. A detail of the present will be apparent by reading the best
mode for carrying out invention as explained later with reference to
accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the connector
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the connector according
to the first embodiment of the present invention, when seen from a rear
side, in the state in which a shield member is detached;

[0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector
according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an end portion of an
electric wire which is connected to the connector;

[0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a connector according to
a second embodiment of the present invention, when seen from a rear side,
in the state in which a shield member is detached;

[0023] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the connector
according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

[0024] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an end portion of an
electric wire which is connected to the connector.

MODE TO CARRY OUT INVENTION

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

[0026] First, a connector according to the first embodiment will be
described.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the connector according
to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded
perspective view illustrating the connector according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view
illustrating the connector according to the first embodiment of the
present invention, when seen from a rear side, in the state in which a
shield member is detached. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating
the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an end portion of an electric
wire which is connected to the connector.

[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a connector 11A according to the
first embodiment is, for example, a motor connector which is directly
attached to a motor for HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), and includes a
housing 13 made of, for example, resin having an insulation property. A
shield shell 15 is mounted on the housing 13, and a shield member 16 is
attached to a rear side of the housing.

[0029] The housing 13 accommodates terminals 19 attached to end portions
of a plurality of electric wires 17.

[0030] Each electric wire 17 is to supply electric power to the motor, and
is one including a conductor made of metal, for example, copper, and a
sheath made of an insulator, for example, resin, which encloses an outer
circumference of the conductor. The end portion of the electric wire 17
is provided integrally with the terminal 19 which is directly connected
to a terminal of the motor or the like.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the terminal 19 has a tap 21 and a
terminal joint part 23, and the conductor of the electric wire 17 which
is exposed from the sheath is press-fixed to the terminal joint part 23
of the terminal 19. A method of fixing the conductor of the electric wire
17 to the terminal joint part 23 may include thermal compression bonding,
ultrasonic joining, and pressure welding.

[0032] The electric wire 17 is provided with a sealing member 25. The
sealing member 25 is made of waterproof resin consisting of elastomer
(elastic material) having insulation and waterproof properties, for
example, rubber. The sealing member has a sealing portion 27 formed in a
ring shape, and an electric wire protecting part 29 of a tubular shape
extending from the sealing portion 27 to one side. The sealing member 25
has a hole portion 31 at its center, through which the electric wire 17
passes. As the electric wire 17 passes through the hole portion 31 of the
sealing member 27, the sealing member 25 is mounted on the electric wire
17 so that the sealing portion 27 is disposed at the terminal 19 side and
the electric wire protecting part 29 extends along the electric wire 17.
In this way, the electric wire protecting part 29 extending from the
sealing member 25 is interposed between the electric wire 17 and the
shield member 16 at a position near the terminal joint part 23.

[0033] A plurality of terminal accommodating holes 32 are arranged in
parallel in a rear end side of the housing 13, and the terminals 19 which
are respectively jointed to the end portion of the electric wire 17 are
inserted and accommodated in these terminal accommodating holes 32.

[0034] The housing 13 is provided at its front surface with a plurality of
insertion holes 33, and the tap 21 of each terminal 19 which is inserted
and accommodated in the terminal accommodating hole 32 is inserted in the
insertion hole 33 to protrude forward from the housing 13.

[0035] The terminal accommodating hole 32 has a large-diameter portion 35A
which is formed by increasing a rear end side of the housing 13 in
diameter, and the sealing portion 27 of the sealing member 25 is fitted
into the large-diameter portion 35. As the sealing portion 27 of the
sealing member 25 is fitted into the large-diameter portion, the sealing
member 25 seals between the housing 13 and the electric wire 17 at the
rear end side of the housing 13.

[0036] A rear holder 37 is fitted into the large-diameter portion 35 of
the housing 13 at a rear end side of the sealing member 25 rather than
the sealing portion 27. The rear holder 37 is formed in a ring shape with
a fitting hole 39 formed at its center, and the electric wire protecting
part 29 of the sealing member 25 mounted on the electric wire 17 is
fitted into the fitting hole 39 of the rear holder 37.

[0037] As the rear holder 37 is fitted into the large-diameter portion 35
of the housing 13, the sealing member 25 is pressed to prevent the
sealing member 25 from being released from the housing 13.

[0038] The housing 13 is provided with a flange portion 41 on a
circumference thereof. A sealing groove 43 is formed at a front side of
the flange portion 41 in a circumferential direction, and a sealing ring
45 is mounted on the sealing groove 43.

[0039] The shield shell 15 is made of metal, such as aluminum or aluminum
alloy, or a conductive material, so as to eliminate a noise. The shield
shell 15 has a tubular portion 51 mounted to cover the housing 13, and a
shell flange 53 formed at the front end side of the tubular portion 51.
The shell flange 53 is provided with a concave portion 55 for receiving
the flange portion 41 of the housing 13. Further, the shell flange 53 is
provided with a bolt insertion hole 57.

[0040] The shield member 16 is made of a braid woven in a mesh shape from
a plurality of thin metal wires, and has flexibility which is extendable
in either of an axial direction or a radial direction. The shield member
16 is mounted so that one end side thereof covers the circumference of
the tubular portion 51 of the shield shell 15. The shield member 16 is
press-fastened and fixed to the shield shell 15 by a crimping ring 61 to
electrically conduct with the shield shell 15. The shield member 16 is
shaped to be gradually contracted toward its rear end side thereof, and
the electric wires 17 led from the housing 13 and mounted with the
electric wire protecting part 29 of the sealing member 25 are together
enclosed by the shield member 16. Meanwhile, the shield member 16 is not
limited to the braid, but may be a metal foil or a metal tube.

[0041] The connector 11A including the above structure is fixed to a case
of an object to be connected, such as a motor, by inserting a bolt into
the insertion hole 57 formed in the shell flange 53 of the shield shell
15 from the rear end side, and screwing the bolt to a threaded hole
formed in the case of the object to be connected. The flange portion 41
of the housing 13 is pressed against the case of the object to be
connected, and so that the housing 13 and the case of the object to be
connected are sealed by the sealing ring 45 and the shield shell 15 is
electrically connected to the case of the object to be connected.

[0042] By the way, if the electric wire 17 is pulled by an external force,
such as shock, applied from an exterior and thus a tensile force is
produced at the terminal joint part 23, the electric wire can be ruptured
at the terminal joint part 23, or the sheath of the electric cable 17 can
be peeled off

[0043] In this instance, the connector 11A according to this embodiment
can reliably prevent the short circuit which is caused by contact between
the electric wire 17 and the shield member 16, since the electric wire 17
near the portion in which the electric wire 17 is joined with the
terminal 19, that is, the terminal joint part 23, is covered and
protected by the electric wire protecting part 29 of the sealing member
25 having the insulation property, and the electric wire protecting part
29 is interposed between the electric wire 17 and the shield member 16.

[0044] The length of the electric wire protecting part 29 is set in view
of displacement of the connector, 11A which is fixed to the case of the
object to be connected, due to the external force, and an extra length of
the electric wire 17. For example, if a maximum displacement of the
connector 11A is X and a minimum displacement absorbing quantity produced
by the extra length of the electric wire 17 is Y, a section of a
dimension X-Y from at least terminal joint part 23 is covered by the
electric wire protecting part 29. Therefore, even though the electric
wire is ruptured at the terminal joint part 23, it is possible to
reliably prevent the short circuit due to the contact of the electric
wire 17 and the shield member 16.

[0045] Further, since the electric wire protecting part 29 for preventing
the short circuit is formed as a portion of the sealing member 25, as
compared to the case of forming and employing a separate protecting
member, it does not increase the number of components, which increases in
cost.

[0046] Since the electric wire protecting part 29 is made of the
waterproof resin which is a resilient material consisting of elastomer
such as rubber, as compared to the case in which an electric wire
protecting part is made of hard resin, it is possible to prevent the
electric wire 17 without being damaged by the external force, such as
shock, from the exterior, thereby reliably obtaining the effect of
preventing the short circuit.

[0047] Only the electric wire protecting part 29 extends from the sealing
member 25, and thus the number of components is not increased. Therefore,
since it is not necessary to change manufacturing steps and man-hours
when manufacturing, particular equipment can be easily provided at the
time of production.

[0048] In this way, with the connector 11A according to this embodiment,
it is possible to reliably prevent the short circuit, without causing
increase in cost.

Second Embodiment

[0049] Next, a connector according to the second embodiment will be
described.

[0050] Meanwhile, the same reference numerals have been used to identify
the same or similar elements as those of the first embodiment, and the
description thereof will be omitted herein.

[0051]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the connector according
to the second embodiment of the present invention, when seen from a rear
side, in the state in which a shield member is detached. FIG. 7 is a
cross-sectional view illustrating the connector according to the second
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view
illustrating an end portion of an electric wire which is connected to the
connector.

[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, a connector 11B according to the
second embodiment includes a terminal joint part 23, which is a joint
portion of an electric wire 17 and a terminal 19, molded from waterproof
resin consisting of elastomer (elastic material) having insulation and
waterproof properties, for example, rubber. A mold part 71 is formed
integrally with an electric wire protecting part 73 extending from the
electric wire 17 at a side opposite to the terminal 19. The vicinity of
the terminal joint part 23 is covered by the electric wire protecting
part 73. Also, the electric wire 17 is unified by disposing the mold part
71 and a portion of the electric wire protecting part 73 in a housing 13.
In this way, a gap between the terminal joint part 23 and the housing 13
is sealed by the mold part 71. That is, the mold part 71 serves as a
sealing member to seal between the terminal joint part 23 and the housing
13.

[0053] In the case of the connector 11B including the above structure, the
electric wire 17 near the terminal joint part 23 is covered and protected
by the electric wire protecting part 73 of the mold part 71 having the
insulation property, and the electric wire protecting part 73 is
interposed between the electric wire 17 and the shield member 16.
Therefore, the connector 11B can reliably prevent the short circuit which
is caused by contact between the electric wire 17 and the shield member
16 which is a conductor. Further, since the electric wire protecting part
29 for preventing the short circuit is formed as a portion of the mold
part 71 which serves as the sealing member, it does not increase the
number of components, which increases in cost, as compared to the case of
forming and employing a separate protecting member.

[0054] Since the electric wire protecting part 73 is made of the resilient
material, as compared to the case in which an electric wire protecting
part is made of hard resin, it is possible to prevent the electric wire
17 without being damaged by the external force, such as shock, from the
exterior, thereby reliably obtaining the effect of preventing the short
circuit.

[0055] Only the electric wire protecting part 73 extends from the mold
part 71 which serves as the sealing member, and thus the number of
components is not increased. Therefore, since it is not necessary to
change manufacturing steps and man-hours when manufacturing, particular
equipment can be easily provided at the time of production.

[0056] In particular, since the electric wire protecting part 73 is molded
integrally with the mold part 71, it is possible to decrease a cost by
convenient manufacturing.

[0057] Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to the
above-described embodiments, and a modification, a variation or the like
is allowed. In addition, material, shape, size, number, location or the
like of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary
and not limited as long as they can attain the present invention.

[0058] While the present invention has been described with respect to the
specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art
that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

[0059] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No.
2011-010742, filed on Jan. 21, 2011, which is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0060] The present invention is useful for the technical field of the
connector, since the short circuit can be reliably prevented without
causing increase in cost.